Nainital has a rodent problem. The city administration has formed an inter-departmental committee to investigate the thriving vermin population and its impact.
The Nainital municipality executive officer (EO) Rohitash Sharma said that the committee will investigate the causes behind the growing number and size of rats. The committee includes officials from the municipality, Agriculture department, District Development Authority and the Health department. The committee members have been asked to carry out field inspections, assess the extent of the problem and prepare a detailed report.
Authorities believe improper waste disposal by several restaurants, hotels and eateries may be a major reason behind the sudden increase in rats across different parts of the city where the rodents have already caused damage to safety walls around the famous Naini lake.
Sharma claimed that many restaurants and hotels are reportedly not disposing of garbage correctly, which creates ideal breeding spots for rats. He said that rats deliver their pups in such areas and later spread to nearby streets, markets and residential buildings.
“The municipality is in regular contact with these establishments and is holding multiple meetings to improve waste management practices,” he said. Many residents have also claimed that the rat population has shot up sharply in recent months. Many households have reported rats entering homes at night, damaging goods and biting people while they sleep. More than 40 rat bite cases have been reported this year in the hill station, as per the officials. Rats have become common in parks, market areas and building basements, creating concern among families.
The EO said that the rats found in some parts of the city have also grown in size. According to him, these larger rats are burrowing into the soil and weakening ground structures. Two years ago, a landslide took place near the Band Stand area and expert surveys later showed that rat burrows had reportedly contributed to soil instability. This earlier finding has added urgency to the current investigation.
Sharma said that the Nainital district magistrate Lalit Mohan Rayal has directed the committee to study environmental, health and structural impacts linked to the rat population. The committee will gather data, review expert inputs and submit its report to the administration.
The EO said that the municipality is also consulting veterinarians to ensure the situation does not lead to disease-related problems. He said that the administration may also reach out to officials from other cities that have earlier dealt with similar challenges. “We were thinking of contacting Surat in Gujarat which had faced major issues due to rats in the past. Final decisions on control measures will be taken after the committee completes its study. All departments concerned have been instructed to support field surveys and supply necessary information,” he said.
